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THE OLD ClIURCir, QUIXCY, MASS. 
Euilt 1732. 



AN 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OLD CHURCH, QUINCY, MASS 



Rev. FREDERIC A. WHITNEY. 



FROM THE NEW ENGLAND IlISTOKICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REOLSTER. 




ALBANY : 

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 
1864. 



u:- 



P— w mnlilfH 



THE OLD CHURCH, QUINCY. 



The accompanying engraving* represents the church belonging to 
the ancient religious society of Braintree, wliich, in 1T92, became 
the first society of Quincy, on the incorporation of that town. 
Quincy was, indeed, the original settlement; the Mount Wollaston; 
the North Precinct of Braintree. This church was taken down in 
1828, on the completion of the present elegant stone edifice. Here, 
two presidents of our nation, John Adams, and John Quincy Adams 
his son, were baptized, and here they regularly worshipped. The 
imposing funeral services at the burial of President John Adams in 
July 1826, were held in this church. Here too, was baptized, January 
16, 1136-7, John Hancock, the patriot, President of the Continental Con- 
gress, by his father. Rev. John Hancock, fifth pastor of the church. 
The church has thus an historic name. 

This engraving was originally made for the History of Quincy, 
published in 1827, by the late Rev. George Whitney of Roxbury, 
oldest son of the last pastor of the ancient church. The writer of 
the present sketch prepared a portion of it, some years since, for 
another publication. At the request of the editor of the Register, he 
has revised and enlarged the same, and sent it with the engraving 
for insertion in this number. 

The church was built in the ministry of Rev. John Hancock, who 
was ordained Nov. 2, 1726. A record by him informs us: "It was 
raised July 27-'8-'9, 1731 in peaceable times." Before its erection, the 
society worshipped in a stone church which stood near the present 
Second Congregational church, on Hancock street. This old stone 
church remained until Feb. 18, 1747-8, when a vote passed to sell 
it to the highest bidder. It was sold to Serg. Moses Belcher and 
Mr. Joseph Nightingale, for £100 old tenor. Whether or not 
this was the original church edifice of the society cannot be deter- 
mined. In the absence of certain testimony, I incline to the belief 
that there had been an earlier building than the old stone church, 
probably on about the same site. 

The church which we commemorate did not arise without many 
town meeting debates and votes. From the precinct records we learn 
that as early as Nov., 1695, a vote was passed for the erection of a 
new building, and there the matter was left. Dec. 22, 1729, the vote 
was again taken and decided in the affirmative. 

"January 5, 1729-30," say the records: " Then, after a considerable 
debate of the precinct about a place where to set the said meeting- 
house, a vote was asked whether it should be set at Col. Quincy's 
gate; it passed in the negative. 

"Then, whether where the old meeting-house stands, or near unto it; 
it passed in the negative. 

" After more debate upon a place where the said meeting-house 



4 The Old Church, Qnincy, Mass. 

should be set, the Moderator was desired to ask a vote whether the 
precinct would set it at the ten mile stone, or near unto it ; it 
passed in the affirmative." 

This ten mile stone now stands, a venerable relic, against the land 
of Lemuel Brackett, Esq., a little north from the site selected, and 
marking the distance from Boston by "the old way;" over Milton 
Hill, and not, as of late years travelled, over Neponset turnpike 
and bridge. 

"January 13,1730-31. The question where the meeting-house 
should be placed was again discussed at the meeting. The question 
was put whether the said House should be erected on the training 
field within the said precinct, as near to the west corner of the land 
of Ensign Samuel Baxter, as the land would admit of ; it passed in 
the affirmative." 

The church raised, as we have seen, in July 1731, was dedicated, 
October 8, 1732. "The text preache'd upon at the dedication," 
says the minister, Rev. Mr. Hancock, "was Isaiah, Ix chapter, 13th 
verse." The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was then administered. 
Upon this Sabbath, also, we began to read the Holy Scriptures in* 
course, in the public assembly. The portion then read was 1 Kings, 
8th chapter. The Sabbath following we began the book of Job and 
the Gospel of St. Matthew. 

" Deo Optimo Maximo, laus et gloria." 

" Madam Norton then presented to the church a very handsome 
velvet cushion for the pulpit." 

Thus much for the early erection of the old church. Something 
may be told of its after history. The church underwent repairs at 
different times; and in 1805, under the ministry of Rev. Mr. Whitney, 
being found too small for ti)e accommodation of the society, it was 
opened through the centre, and a large addition inserted, to be pre- 
sently described, by which more pews were obtained, and its general 
appearance was greatly improved. At this time, the square pews in 
the body of the church gave place to the modern pews ; the square 
form being retained to the last, against the walls. The following 
notice from the History of Quincy, describes its dimensions and 
appearance in 1827, the year in which the accompanying engraving 
was made. The old sounding-board hung above the pulpit. 

" The dimensions of this house since the last alteration are as 
follows : Width, 56 feet; length, 61 feet; height of tower to bell 
deck, 50 feet; height of cupola from bell deck, 25 feet; height of ball 
above the vane from the ground, 75 feet. The appearance of the 
church, inside as well as out, is still very respectable. There are 
87 pews on the lower floor, and all painted throughout. The galleries 
as well as the roof are supported by four large pillars which give 
the house rather a solemn and imposing appearance. The pulpit is 
in the ancient style of building — handsomely carved — with one 
flight of stairs. Below is the communion table forming the front 
part of a large pew, according to ancient custom, made for the ac- 
commodation of the Deacons, or, perhaps, for the Ruling Elders. In 

* This custom was adojited at the old South church, Boston, April 24, 1737. 
See Wisner's Hist. Old South Church, 1830, notes p. 105. 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 5 

front of the gallery for the choir of singers is a handsome clock, 
presented to the society by two ladies; Madam Abigail Adams, wife 
of President Adams, Sen., and Madam Esther Black, widow of the 
late Moses Black, Esq." 

The subjoined diagram, abridged from the original, represents the 
division of the ground floor after the alterations of the building in 1805, 
and when it was taken down in 1828. Square pews, as has been said, 

G-round Plan of Church. 

NORTH. —Fifty-sixfeet. 
Tower. 






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For complete list of owners and occupants, see page 8. 



were retained around the walls. As the dimensions, when the church 
was taken down, were sixty one feet by fifty-six, and, as fifteen feet were 
added in the width, in 1805, the original size was sixty-one by forty- 
one. At first the galleries were reached by stairs in the west corners 
of the church as customary in early times, and all the pews were 



6 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 

square. There were two rows of body seats in front, on which 
were seated men and women on opposite sides. Behind these were 
two rows for the singers. When the singers stood, they faced each 
other, with a partition between them, on which to lay their books. 
The Deacons sat in their place before the pulpit and lined off the 
Psalm, Mr. Lemuel Brackett, who was born in 1 780, and is of the 
best authority on these matters of and near his time, informs me 
that when he was a boy, Mr. Babcock, who afterwards removed to 
Milton, led the singing, using a pitch-pipe. 

At length a change was made. The stairs in the corners were re- 
moved. The west gallery was enlarged for the singers by adding 
the swell in front. Deacon Pierce, carpenter from Dorchester, was 
employed by the town to make these alterations, about 1793, or '94. 
He converted the body seats above named into pews, and the 
singers went into the gallery, and the poor were seated in a pew by 
the pulpit. Mr. Pierce at the same time, repaired the damage which 
the tower had sustained by lightning several years before. The 
lightning had destroyed the belfry, so that the bell had remained quite 
uncovered for many years. Rev. Mr. Wibird had long urged the 
repairing of the tower, which in its dilapidated state, brought 
merited reproach upon the town. When the stairs were removed 
from the west corners of the church, it was necessary to provide 
other means for reaching the galleries. The first porch on the 
south of the cliurch was of one story only, without stairs; and the 
stairs in the tower on the north did not connect with the main build- 
ing. Indeed I am credibly informed that the tower was not framed 
into the main building, but rather stood against it, so that in a 
furious gale it was once twisted a little from its proper position, 
and persons could look between it and the building. This great gale 
occurred while a military review was held in the north part of the 
town at the Farms ; and the tents of the soldiers were blown down 
and other damage sustained. The small porch on the south was 
sold to Mr. James Brackett, father of Mr. Lemuel, who removed it to 
Germantown (the south eastern extremity of Quincy), and ai33xcd it 
to the old stone house there which then belonged to him. A new two 
story porch was erected by Mr. Pierce, with stairs to the south, or 
women's gallery, and also to the south end of the west gallery, 
which remained when the church was taken down. Communication 
was also made with the tower on the north, by which access was had 
to the men's gallery, and also to the north end of the west gallery. 

The removal of the singers from the seats before the pulpit to the 
gallery was not effected without some solicitation. They were at 
first quite unwilling to go up. But means were employed which, 
both before and since that period, have been found most eflScacious 
for changing even the stubborn will. Mr. James Brackett, above 
named, chairman of the committee on the alterations, made a sup- 
per for the singers at his house. A fine festival was enjoyed, and 
the singers were no longer unwilling to go into the gallery. My 
informant further relates that among them at the feast, was Mr. 
Joseph Bass, whom many of the citizens of Quincy will remember 
as reaching a great age, and also his brother Mr. Hezekiah Bass who 
played the bass-viol. This instrument was first used in the church 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 7 

when the singers changed their seats. Some of the congregation 
were much oflfended at the introduction of stringed instruments. 
One old man rose up and left, saj'ing that " he did not want to go to 
God's House to hear a great fiddle." 

On the removal of the corner stairs, room was made for pews 
below and above. March 3, 1800, an article in the warrant for a 
town meeting is in these words, — " To know if the Town will sell 
the floor where the stair ways was in the gallery." Whereupon, — 
" Voted that the floor where the old stair ways was, the vacancy in 
the gallery be appropriated for the use of the black people to sit 
in." Large square pews, somewhat elevated, were built in the 
corner of the west, or singers' gallery on this space here referred to; 
and the few colored persons in town were accustomed to sit there. 
In the appendix to the historical discourse in 1855, on the hundredth 
anniversary of the formation of the first church in Templeton, Mass., 
by Rev. Edwin G. Adams, junior pastor, may be seen a diagram on 
which these elevated corner pews are well represented. 

At a Town meeting May 5, 1800, just three months after the 
ordination of Rev. Mr. Whitney, " Voted Moses Black Esq , Mr. 
Thomas Pratt, Peter B. Adams, Esq., be a committee, and are 
hereby empowered to sell the floor on the back part of the end 
galleries sufficient to make a row of pews of." 

This vote does not appear to have been carried into effect. No 
pews were ever built in the north or men's gallery. And in the 
south galler}^, a few pews were, several years after, built in the east 
end, leaving more than half the gallery in free seats for women. 
There was originally a row of pews on the back of the west gal- 
lery, and several of them in the middle were subsequently taken 
away to leave more space for the singers. 

1804, Nov. 5. " Moses Black, Esq., Benjamin Beale, Esq., Mr. 
Thomas Greeuleaf, Capt. John Hall, Peter B. Adams, Esq. were 
chosen to consult with some architect upon the plan of an enlarge- 
ment of the house and to report to the town." 

1805, March 4. " This committee is empowered to contract with 
an}' person or persons that may incline to undertake the work, pro- 
vided satisfactory bonds be given to the town that the house shall 
not be injured, and to be left in as good repair as it now is, they 
having the ground for their benefit." Voted also, " that'the meeting 
house shall not be enlarged more than 15 feet, nor less than 12 feet" 

The extreme caution of the town, evinced by these votes, not to 
be imposed upon by any fraudulent contractor in so momentous an 
enterprise as sawing apart a meeting house, sixty-one by forty-one, 
and inserting fifteen feet is most admirable. Mr. Bates of Wey- 
mouth, undertook the work; and, by the sale of new pews which he 
gained, the contract was very profitable to him. The town was 
furthermore so well satisfied that they had sustained no " injury" — 
that his bonds were not forfeited. 

1805, July 22. " Voted to shingle all the old part of the meeting 
house, which Mr. Bates has not contracted to do; and that the sub- 
ject be referred to the committee on alterations." 

The enlargement of the church here described, was effected by 
sawing the building, lengthwise with the ridge pole, from North to 



8 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass- 

south, moving the front, or west portion of the same fifteen feet 
forward, and framing in the intermediate space. The fonr large 
pillars which will be remembered as supporting the roof in the body 
of the church, were added at this time. Of course by this move- 
ment, the ridge-pole was elev?ited above its former height, and the 
roof on the east elongated as well as on the west. The tower and 
also the south porch were moved westward a few feet, to correspond 
with the new ridge line. 

By a typographical error in the history of Quincy, this enlarge- 
ment of the church is assigned to 1806. The number of weeks em- 
ployed in the work may be inferred from the following entries made 
by Rev. Mr. Whitney in his private diar^^ of preaching. 

1805, July 21. " We had no meeting; our meeting house was 
opened." " July 28. No meeting at Quincy, I preached for Mr. 
Whitney of Hingham." On the first sabbath of August, worship 
was resumed. November 17, following, is recorded in the diary. 
" No meeting. — painting pews, &c." November 24, worship was re- 
sumed. 

It will be remembered by those who recall the old church, that it 
rested for underpinning on two rows of neatly hammered stone, and 
that the door steps were of similar material. The church as original- 
ly constructed had not this; but it was added about 1790. The 
town contemplated putting the hammered stone only under three 
walls of the church, leaving the back, or east side in its first rough 
finish. Now this side of the church looked towards Thompson 
Baxter's house in which Rev. Mr. Wibird boarded, and was that 
which the pastor first approached in coming to his pulpit. He heai-d 
of the purpose of the town, and exclaimed, ' why should not my side 
be hammered stone too I' It must be; I will pay for it myself." 
And, according to his accustomed liberality, he actually insisted on, 
defraying the cost of that part of the stone. It was not uncommon, 
as I learned from my father, his successor in the ministry, for Rev. 
Mr. Wibird to look over the list of rates prepared for the payment 
of his salary, and erase some names, saying, ' this man has been un- 
fortunate,' — or ' such an one needs the monej'^ more than I do,' — and 
thus, deductions were frequently made from his stated stipend. The 
hammered stones above named were used in the underpinning of the 
houses erected from the materials of the old church on Cottage 
Avenue. 

When the church was taken down, the owners of pews, by a quit-claim 
deed, which is in the possession of the parisii treasurer Mr. Lewis Bass, 
and which he courteously loaned to me for these minutes, relinquished 
all right and title thereto, — each owner signing and sealing, and re- 
ceiving fifty dollars for a pew below, and ten dollars fur one above. 
As owners & occupants could not be described on the diagram, we 
add a brief notice of each — giving from the deed, the owners on the 
final disposition of the edifice. 

No. 1. Owner, President John Quincy Adams. His olde.st son George Washing- 
ton Adams, attorney, of H. U., 1821, signs for liim. President John Adams, 
former owner, died July 4, 182(5, in his 91st year. His wife, Abigail died 
October 28, 1818, aged 74. He was never absent from church forenoon, or 
afternoon, when in Quincy ; and was accustomed in the latter years of his life 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass, 9 

to sit on the short seat across the head of the pew. His son, the President, as 

punctual at church, died February 23, 1848, in his 81st year. His widow, 

Louisa Catharine, died May l.*), 1852, aged 77. For pedigree of Adams family 

see vol. Tii. p. 39 of this Register. 

No. 2. Owner, Daniel Greenleaf who came from Boston 1797, and many years 

after, bought and occupied both the pew and the large and beautiful estate of 

Moses Black, — the original estate of Edmund, ancestor of the Quincy family. 

Mr. Greenleaf died March 25, 1853, aged 90 years, 6 mos. His wife died 

January 6, 1839, aged 73. He was brother to .John of pew No. 70, and cousin to 

Thomas of pew No. 18, also cousin to his own wife Elizabeth Greenleaf. 

No. 3. Owner, George Nightingale, formerly town clerk and treasurer ; who died 

Feb. 25, 1864, aged 77 years, 9 mos. Seth Burrill occupied before him. Asa 

Pope also occujJied. 

No. 4. Owner, Cotton Tufts, H. U. 1777, died 1833, aged 76. This family lived in 

Weymouth, attending constantly here. He was son of Dr. Cotton Tufts of 

Weymouth, H. U. 1749, and father of Quincy Tufts, who is still merchant at 

No. 105 Washington street, Boston, where he has been engaged longer than 

any other single trader, or firm on the street. 

No. 5. Owner, Isaac Riddle of Quincy Point. Nathan Josselyn also occupied it. 

No. 6. Owner, Anthony Wibird Baxter from the west part of the town, died Sept., 

1822. His widow Catharine signs the deed, as executrix. 
No. 7. Owner, William Hayden, Sen., deed signed for him by Wm. Hayden, jr., 
attorney. Judge Thomas Boylston Adams, of H. U. 1790, son of President 
John Adams occupied it. He died, 1832. 
No. 8. Owner, George W. Beale (see No. 85.) Occupied by John Briesler, mer- 
chant, now of the firm of Briesler & Whitney, Quincy. 
No. 9. Owners, Hannah Miller and her sen Edward, of £. U. 1813, attorney. He 

died 1842. 
No. 10. Owner, Josiah Quincy. He owned, also, pew No. 34, and by a door con- 
nected the two for greater accommodation. This venerable statesman and 
true patriot, now in his 93d year, passed the last summer as usual, at his 
country seat at Quincy, where his ancestors settled and worshipped more than 
two centuries ago. 
No. 11. Owner, Capt. Oliver .Jenkins from Quincy Point ; died August, 1829. 

Occupants Ebeuezer Shaw, and Perez Chubbuck, also of the Point. 
No. 12. Owners jointly and occupants, Benjamin and Job Faxon. 
No! 13. " " " " Joseph Brae kett, and widow Jerusha New- 

comb. 
No. 14. Owner, James Hall. Occupants, Abner Willett, and Daniel French pro- 

prieter of the old tavern, afterwards called the Hancock House. 
No. 15. Owner, Elijah Spear, who owned and occupied 'till his death, the house 
still standing near the head of the Quincy canal, in which Rev. Mr. Wibird 
lived, unmarried, through his muiistry, then the estate of Thompson Baxter. 
No. 16. Owner, Jonathan Beale, whose house was on the western border of 

Quincy, close upon the Milton line. 
No. 17. Owners, Heirs of Samuel Spear. He lived at Hough's Neck, Quincy. 

The deed is signed by Daniel Baxter, jr. in behalf of the heirs. 
No. 18. Owner, Thomas Greenleaf, of H. U. 1784. He came from Boston in 1803 
— though a temporary resident here from 1790. His house in which he lived 
more than fifty years, west, beyond President Adams's, once belonged to Rev. 
Dr. Charles Chauncy of first church, l^oston, who lived here for a few months 
of several successive years. Mr. Greenleaf died Jan. 5, 1854, in his 87th year. 
His widow Mary Deming (Price) died Feb. 22, 1856, in her 89th year. He was 
brother to the wife of Daniel, of pew No. 2. See Rev. Dr. Luut's discjurse 
after his death, for historical and genealogical notices. 
No. 19. Owner, Capt. Josiah Bass, whose estate on Nepou.set turnpike connected 

with Hon. Josiah Quincy's. 
No. 20. Owner, Deacon Daniel Spear. It was before owned by Theophilns 

Thayer; then by George his son. Josiah Brigham, merchant, occupied it. 
No. 21. Owner, Oliver Jenkins as of No. 11. 
No. 22. Owner, James Mayo of Quincy Point. Deed signed by his widow Lucin- 

da. It was occupied by Capt, Ezra Prior's family, also of Quincy Point. 
No. 23. Owner, Edward W. Baxter's estate. Josiah Baxter signs deed for one-half 

of it. John Colman also occupied it. 
No. 24, Palish pew lor minister's family. 



10 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 

No. 25. Owner, James Baxter, whose estate adjoined Thomas Greenleaf s. 

No. 26, Owners and occupants jointly, Deacon Daniel Spear, and Nedabiah Bent. 

No. 27. Owner, Jonathan Baxter of Quincy Point. 

No. 28. Owner, Bryant Newcomb, wlio also owned a pew in the east end of the 
south gallery where he always sat himself. 

No. 29. Owner, Adam Curtis, occupied, also by his brother Samuel, sons of Noah, 
and all extensively engaged in the manufacture of boots. 

No. 30. Owner, Noah Curtis from Pain's Hill, town treasurer. 

No. 31. Owner, Deacon Samuel Savil, occupied also by his son Josiah Savil. 

No. 32. Owner, Ebenezer Crane, occupied, also by his son-in-law, Josiah Nightin- 
gale. 

No. 33. Owner, Wm. Baxter, jr., occupied also by Paul Wild. 

No. 34. Owner, Josiah Quincy, connecting with No. 10. 

No. 35. Owner, Frederick Hardwick. 

No. 36. Owner, Josiah Bass, as of No. 19. 

No. 37. Owners, Edmund Billings' estate, by Lemuel Brackett admin isti'ator, one- 
third, — Jerusha and Mary Billings, each, one-third. 

No. 38. Owner, Daniel Greenleaf (as of No. 2), occupied by his sister Priscilla, 
widow of John Appleton, and her son Alfred. 

No. 39. Owner, George H. Apthorp. The deed is signed for him by Rev. Benja- 
min Clark Cutler, of the Episcopal church, Quincy. Aaron Mason, also, oc- 
cupied, of the firm of Chamberlin and Mason, wheelwrights. 

No. 40. Owner, Lemuel Brackett (see No. 54), occupied by Ebenezer Green. 

No. 41. Owner, Lemuel Pope, from Squantum, north-east part of the town. 

No. 42. Owner, John Savil, son of Deacon Samuel Savil. 

No. 43. Owner, John Souther, shipwriglit at Souther's wharf, Quincy. 

No. 44. Owner, James Hall, son of Capt. John Hall, former owner. 

No. 45. Owner, Ezra Glover. 

No. 46. Owner, Jesse Fenno. Deed signed by Daniel Spear, executor. 

No. 47. Owners, Edward Glover, Polly Glover administratrix, one-half each. 

No. 48. Owner, General Thomas Taylor, from "the Farms." 

No. 49. Owner, John Quincy Adams; deed signed as No. 1. John Spear Oc- 
cupied. 

No. 50. Owners, Samuel and Ebenezer Raw.son, one-half each. 

No. 51, Owner, Deacon Josiah Adams, occupied also by his son Josiah, jr. Dea- 
con Adams died April 24, 1844, aged 80. He and his brothers of pews Nos. 67 
and 77, were second cousins to President John Q. Adams. Deacon Adams^ 
widow, Margaret died Feb. 3, 1849, wanting 9 days of 75 years. 

No. 52. Owner, John Bass, kindly remembered by many ; living on Granite street 
to an advanced age, his sister Polly with him, — both unmarried. Occupied 
also by William Seaver, teacher. Dr. Woodward, Dart. Col. 1817, present 
senior physician of Quincy, when entering on his practise, forty years ago, 
sat here. 

No. 53. Owner, Elisha T. Crane. Occupied also by Ebenezer Nightingale. This 
pew formerly belonged to Thompson Baxter, with whom Rev. Mr. Wibird lived. 

No. 54. Owner, Lemuel Brackett. Belonged, formerly, to his father James, who 
died August IH, 1825, in his 90th year, a constant attendant at church, and, 
in his latter years, sitting in the pulpit by reason of deafne,ss. The present 
owner as constant an attendant at church and still in excellent health, in his 
84th year, living (probably oldest man in town) at his house on Hancock street, 
which he built in 1826, when he left the very ancient house of his father. 
He isf%reat-great-great grand son of the original ancestor, Capt. Richard Jkackett, 
Deacon, Boston, 1632, — who, with wife Alice, joined Braintree, now Quincy, 
first church, — town clerk, — third captain of the town, which office, by reason 
of infirmities, he begged to lay down in 1684, and the court appointed Edra. 
Quincy to succeed him . Richard gave a silver cup to the church which is inscribed 

with the initials of him and his wife, after the ancient custom, thus tj jl a 

He died March 5, 1690, aged 80. See Savage; also Genealogical sketch of the 
Brackett family by the late Jell'rey Richardson, jr., grand son of Lemuel B., 
and member of N. E. Hist, and Gen. Society. 
No. 55. Owners, jointly, Capt. James Brackett, older brother of Lemuel, and 
Thomas Phipps as administrator. It M-as occupied also in latter years of the 
church by the families of William Whall and Charles Park. Capt. Brackett 
kept a store by his house, which was on the north east corner of Hancock and 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 1 1 

Elm streets. The old town hay scales, unlike what we see now, stood in front 
of this store. This house was built in 1794-5, by James, father of Capt. 
James, and was on the site of the old well known Brackett tavern kept by 
James, graud father of Capt. James. Capt. James Brackeit removed from 
Quincy in 1825, to Philadelphia ; and, after residing some years at Greenport, 
L. I., died at Philadelphia, April 18, 1855, in his 86th year. 

No. 56. Owner, Dr. Thomas Phipps, who succeeded his father, Dr. Thomas, of 
H. U., 1757, as physican in Quincy, and who fell dead, August 30, 1832, from 
ossification of heart, as he was leaving his house on School street, walking to the 
Town Hall, to meet the officers of the regiment and resign his commission as its 
surgeon. Hewasat Cambridge commencement, with his family, seeming never 
in better health, on the day before, when his son Harrison Gray Otis Phipps, 
afterwards minister at Cohasset, took part on graduating. The first owner of 
this pew was Capt. Joseph Neal Arnold who was named for old Deacon Neal. 

No. 57. Owner, Capt. James Brackett of No. 55. Lewis Baxter occupied it. 

No. 58. Owner, Henry Hardwick, who lived at the foot of Pain's Hill. 

No. 59. Owner, Peter Keating. His son-in-law Lemuel Baxter, and Thomas 
Nightingale also occupied it. 

No. 60. Owner, Elijah Spear, of No. 15. Occupied by Moses Reed Marsh, and 
Edmund, brothers, who carried on a boot factory on Hancock street, opposite 
house of L. Brackett. 

No. 61. Owner, Elisha Marsh, who died April 17, 1847, aged 65. His widow Lucy 
died Jan. 23, 1864, aged 81. Former owner, his father, Wilson Marsh, who 
died July 7, 1828, aged 78. Wilson was great-grand son of the original 
ancestor, Lieut. Alexander Marsh, Freeman, 1654, who married probably, 
Dec, 19, 1655, Mary, dau. of Gregory Belcher, and died March V, 16i,3 aged 
about 70. Alexander's son John was father, probably, of John, of H. U,, liZ? 

No. 62. Owner of one-half, Wm. Newcomb. Occupied also by his sons. 

No. 63. Owner, John Pray, who died at an advanced age ; father of Lewis G. 
Pray, long engaged in business in Boston, now residing atRoxbury, 

No. 64. Owners, jointly, Joseph Field from the foot of Pain's Hill, and William Bax- 
ter, School street. 

No. 65. Owners, jointly, Jedadiah and Peter Adams, brothers; from whose estate 
on Sea street. Rev. P. Whitney purchased land in 1801, on which to erect his 
house, and subsequently, in 1809. 

No. 66. Owners, jointly, Wm. Sj^ear; and Daniel Hobart, Sexton for many years. 

No. 67. Ownei', Ebenezer Adams. He died June 10, 1841, aged 79 years, 1 
mo. His widow Elizabeth, died September 26, 1856, aged 81 years, 20 days. 
John Whitney merchant at Quincy Point, also occupied it, who died Jan. 2, 
1850, in his 65th year. He was brother, and the wives of Ebenezer Adams, 
of Deacon Josiah Adams, and of Lemuel Brackett were sisters of Rev. Peter 
Whitney. Mr. Adams bought this pew of the estate of Gen. Palmer, who 
lived at German town. 

No. 68. Owner, Lewis Bass, now living on Granite street! — Parish treasurer, son of 
Deacon Jonathan Bass, former owner. 

No. 69. Owner, Wm. James, jr., Hannah Bent and mother, also occupied it. 

No. 70. Owner, John Greenleaf, formefrly judge Richard Cranch's pew, whose dau. 
Lucy he married April 4, 1795. His estate was the ancient Granch estate on 
School street. He was son of sherilf Wm. Greenleaf of Boston. Rev. Dr. 
Lunt, in the appendix to his sermon after the death of Hon. Thomas Greenleaf, 
says, " there were two sheriffs of Suffolk at that time, and what is remarkable, 
they were brothers, one a Tory, Stephen Greenleaf, and the other, Wm. Green- 
leaf, an ardent Whig." A sister of Mr. John Greenleaf, Nancy, married his 
wife's brother, judge Wm. Craneh of Washington. Mr. Greenleaf died March 
29, 1848, aged 84 years 6 mo. His wife died previous, Feb. 18, 1846, aged 79 
years. Her mother and President John Adams's wife were sisters, — the daugh- 
ters of Rev. AVm. Smith of Weymouth. Dr. Lunt concludes his excellent 
sermon on Mr. Thomas Greenleaf in these words. " And may it be our 
felicity, when our earthly work shall be ended, to leave behind us as un- 
tarnished a name, and as distinct, as unequivocal, and as reliable evidences of 
a useful and honorable life, as have been left beliind him by the venerated 
friend, fellow-townsman, and fellow-worshipper upon whose grave I lay 
this humble tribute of affectionate respect." And of Mr. John Greenleaf Dr. 
Lunt writes, as above. " This venerable man had been blind from his youth ; 
but the care which his condition required was an office of love, and never a 



12 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 

burden through his uniform cheerfulness and Christian goodness. Mr. and Mrs, 
Greenleaf were among the excellent of the earth ; and the memory of their quiet 
worth is cherished in many hearts." Mr. G., we m&y add, though blind, was a 
constant attendant at cliurcb. He was likewise, proficient on the organ and 
other musical instruments. 

No. 71. Owners, Peter Brackett, one-eighth ; Betsey Brackett, one-fourth and two- 
tenths ; Mary P. Adams, one-eighth ; Frances Spear, Mehitable and Sarah 
Nightnigale, one-tenth, each. 

No. 72. Owner, Daniel Spear. John Billings and Mrs. Faxon also occupied it. 

No. 73. Owner, Wm. Wood, master builder of the new stone church. The family 
of Thomas Crane, also occupied it. 

No. 74. Owner, Peter Bicknell from Germantown, south east part of Quincy. 

No. 7.5. Owners, Horatio N. Glover, one half; Nathaniel Glover and Thomas 
Adams, one-quarter, each. 

No. 76. Owner Jonathan Marsh, son of Wilson of pew No. 61. He was much inter- 
ested in historical and genealogical research, and a subscriber to this jRcgisicr. 
He endured a long and jminful confinement in Christian patience and hope, 
and died, December 10, 1861, aged 74 years, 8 mos, 5 days. See a full notice 
in this Register, vol. l5, p. 179. 

No. 77. Owner, Thomas Adams, whose estate was on Neponset Turnpike. He 
was brother of Deacon Josiah and Ebenezer. 

No. 78. Owner, Solomon Nightingale. James Green also occupied it. 

No. 79. Owner, Adam Hardwick. 

No. 80. Owners, Jonathan Cook and Daniel Spear. 

No. 81. Owner, William Wood. George Veasie occupied it. Deacon Elijah 
Yeasie, his father, formerly. 

No. 82. Owners, Oliver Billings, one-half; George M. Gibbens, one-quarter ; Geo. 
B. Billings, one-quarter. 

No. 83. Owner, John Dwelle from Pain's Hill. Henry, brother of Wm. Wood, 
also occupied it. 

No. 84. Owners, Luther Spear, two-thirds ; Frances, widow of Seth Spear, one- 
third. 

No. 85. Owner, George W. Beale. He fell dead in his yard, of disease of the 
heart, Nov. 19, IS.'il, aged 69. His father, Capt Benjamin Beale, farmer 
owner, died in 1825, at a very advanced age. Their large and beautiful estate 
adjoined President Adams' on the west. 

No. 86. Owner, Peter Boylston Adams, brother to President John Adams. He 
died at a very advanced age. The deed is signed by Peter Turner as Guardian 
of Peter Boylston Adams, for one-third ; Mary Turner for one-third ; and 
Davis Boardman for one-third. Elisha Turner, also occupied it. 

No. 87. Pari.sh pew for town's poor. 

The quit-claim deed relinquishing- the pews, contains the signa- 
tures of the following persons who gave up pews in the galleries: 
Bryant Newcomb; Capt. Benjamin Page; Alpheus and Lemuel Spear, 
brothers, one; George Spear; Ebenezer Bent; Thomas Adams; 
Solomon and Josiah Nightingale, one; Ezra Glover; Daniel Spear. 
The first four pews were in the east end of the south gallery 
and were occupied by the owners. The others were on the back of 
the west gallery, most of the owners occupying their pews below. 

The following vote relates to the pews in the south gallery, only. 
" Monday October 6, 1828. Voted tiiat the persons owning pews in 
the gallery of the old meeting house may have the right of taking 
away the iron railings and cnitains in front of their pews," 

At the same meeting, — " Voted to put a new dial and glass to the 
clock now belonging to the parish, and put the same upon the new 
meeting house." 

This clock is the one now on the west or singers' gallerj- of the new 
stone temple. It was a gift — as appears by the following vote from 
the town records, the old first parish then comprising the town, — 



The Old Church, Qidncy, Mass. 13 

" Sept 30, 1*199,— Voted that the thanks of the town be returned to 
President Adams and Mr. Moses Bhick for the present to the town of 
a clock in the meeting house." 

We come now to the destruction of the old church, venerable, in 
wanting to its age but four years of a complete century. Owino- 
to the increase of the inhabitants of the town and to the somewhat 
singular non-increase of religious societies, tlie edifice was found far 
too small for the accommodation of all who wished to worship in it. 
A new and larger one was contemplated. The bequests of President 
Adams, sen., of some granite quarries, made to the town in 1822, 
with the request that from them a temple should be erected by the 
first parish, were a further incitement to the work; and on the 6th of 
Nov., 1826, the report of a committee appointed on the 11th of April 
previous, recommending the erection of a stone church, was almost 
unanimously accepted by the parish. The cellar was commenced on 
the 9th of April, 1827, the corner stone was laid with appropriate re- 
ligious ceremonies on the 11th of June following, and the church 
was dedicated on Wednesday, November 12, 1828.* The account of 
the exercises, together with the address delivered at the laying of the 
corner stone by the pastor, Eev. Mr. Whitney, while the old church 
was still standing, may be found in the appendix to the history 
of Quincy. The new edifice was located on the north west of the 
old, and immediately contiguous. The portico of the new stone 
church, if shown in this plate, would appear directly fronting the 
observer, on the left of the old tower. So close, indeed, were the 
corners of the two buildings, that in order to complete the right end 
of the stone portico, it was necessary to remove the tower of the 
old church. On the 28th March, 1828, the tower was accordingly 
sold at public auction. It was bid off, with its underpinning and the 
door steps belonging with it, to Mr. John Spear, for seventy' dollars. 
The vane and ball on the cupola were bid off separately from the 
tower, to Mr. Henry Wood, for three dollars and twentj'-five cents, 
and were placed on his barn near his house in Quincy, where they now 
remain. On the eighth of April following the bell was moved from 
the cupola to the north-west end of the roof; and on the fourteenth, 
in the presence of a large number of spectators, the cupola was 
thrown down to the ground with a loud crash, the pillars having 
been sawn off. The writer of this sketch was present, and recorded 
in a diary at the time the incidents as here related. The cupola 
was found to be much decayed. The tower was wholly i-emoved in a 
few days, being taken down in pieces. 

Thus the old edifice stood towerless through the summer, while the 
new temple was progressing by its side. On the 3d of October, as 
the latter drfew towards its completion, the bell was drawn up from 
its summer position on the old roof to the cupola of the new church, 
without at all coming to the ground, leaving the old house ready to 
be taken down. Here the society gathered for the last time, for re- 

* Beneath this granite church, in a massive tomb, repose the remains of Presi- 
dent John Adams and wife, and President John Quincy Adams and wife. In the 
iiiteriiirof the church are mural monuments with appropriate inscriptions, — copies of 
which may be found in the Register, vol. ix. p. 155. 



14 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 

ligious worship, on Sunday, October twelfth. In the afternoon, the 
pastor, Kev. Mr, Whitney, delivered a farewell discourse, appropriate 
to the occasion, from, the words of the Prophet Zechariah I, 5. 
"Your Fathers, where arc they? and the Prophets, do they live 
forever ?" The following beautiful hymn, originally written for a 
similar occasion, by Rev. Dr. Flint, of Salem, was printed, distributed 
in the pews, and sung at the close of the service : — 

(1.) 
Here to tlie High and Holy One, 
Oar fathers early reared 
A house of prayer, a lowly one, 
Yet long to them endeared 
By hours of sweet communion, 
Held with their covenant God, 
As oft, in sacred union, 
His hallowed courts they trod. 

(2.) (3.) 

Gone are the pious multitudes These time-worn walls, the resting place, 

That here kept holy time. So oft, from earthly cares, 

In other courts assembled now. To righteous souls now perfected, 

For worship more sublime. We leave with thanks and prayers ; 

Their children we ar^ waiting With thanks for every blessing 

In meekness, Lord, thy call ; Vouchsafed through all the past, 

Thy love still celebrating, With prayers, thy throne addressing, ■ 

Our hope, our trust, our all. For guidance to the last. 

(4.) 
Though from this house, so long beloved, 
We part with sadness now ; 
Yet here, we trust, with gladness, .soon 
In fairer courts to how ; 
So when our souls, forsaking 
The.se bodies fallen, and ^lale, 
In brighter forms awaking, 
With joy the change shall hail. 

It was not without emotious of regret that for the last time 
the congregation " trod those hallowed courts" where, through 
childhood or manhood and age, they had gone to praise and pray. 
The associations of earlier times gathered in that hour and 
place; and many like "the priests, levites and chief of the fathers 
who were ancient men," of whom the prophet tells us, " remembering 
the former days, wept" that no more tiiey should go up to " the for- 
mer house of the Lord." 

In the afternoon of the next day the old church was sold at public 
auction by Deacon Daniel Spear ; the tower, as we have seen, having 
been disposed of before. Its parts were separately sold and in the 
following order: The pulpit window, broad and handsotne, with a 
semi-circular top, alone, had inside blinds, and these were first sold 
to Isaac Dodge for $3.00. The stove, standing on the north-west 
side, opposite the tower door, was sold, with its appurtenances, to 
David Kiddle, Esq., for $42.50. The pulpit and pews below were 
also sold to him for $53.00. Tlie residue of tlie building was sold to 
Ebenezer Adams, for $202. Stone underpinning and steps were sold 
to Cotton Pratt for $82.50. Total $383.00. Net proceeds of the old 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 15 

church, including the former sale of tower, $456.25. In the course 
of ten days it was wholly taken down and the spot graded, there 
having been no cellar beneath the building ; and on the 12th of 
November following, as we have seen, the present stone church, 
erected at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars, from granite quar- 
ries bequeathed for the purpose, by President John Adams, was 
dedicated. The society worshipped in the Town Hall on three 
Sabbaths previous to the dedication, religious services being sus- 
pended on the first Sabbath after the destruction of the old church 
edifice. 

The materials of the old edifice were, in the following spring, con- 
verted into four dwelling houses still standing on a street then first 
opened for the purpose, now called Cottage Avenue, running from 
Webb's bridge on Hancock street, to Sea street. The houses were 
erected by Mr. Adams, who, as has been seen, purchased the building 
and who, with Samuel Capen of Braintree, owned the land and opened 
the street. This land belonged, originally, to Rev. Mr. Tompson, first 
minister of the church, and was long known as " the Tompson lot." 
Near its northern boundary was the residence of Rev, Mr. Flint, the 
associate of Mr. Tompson, who owned the estate of Jedadiah Adams, 
then including the estate of the .late minister, Rev. P. Whitney. 

We append a complete list of the ministers who have been settled 
over this ancient religious society. The principal portion of Rev. 
Mr. Hancock's ministry, the ministries of Rev. Messrs. Briant and 
Wibird, and most of the ministry of Rev. Mr. Whitney, were in the 
church here commemorated. The latter portion of Rev. Air. Whitney's 
ministry, the ministries of Rev. Messrs. Lunt and Wells were in the 
present stone church. 

I. Rev William Tompson, born in Lancashire, England. 1598 ; 
educated at Oxford. The exact year of his arrival here is uncertain. 
Eminent for zeal and eloquence as a preacher in England. Or- 
dained here, November 19, 1639, (the church having been gathered 
Sept. n, 1639), and died December 10, 1666, in the 69th year of his 
age. He ceased from his public labors as a preacher in 1659, by 
reason of ill-health. 

II. Rev. Henry Flynt (associate), teacher, came to this country in 
1635, probably from Matlock, Derbyshire, England ; ordained here, 
March IT, 1639-40, and died April 2T, 1668, aged 61. 

III. Rev, Moses Fiske, son of Rev. John Fiske, of Wenham, Mass., 
graduate H. U,, 1662 ; ordained Sept. 11, 1672, and died August 10, 
1708, in the 66th year of his age. 

IV. Rev. Joseph Marsh, H. U. 1705, son of Daniel Marsh, of Had- 
ley ; admitted to Cambridge church, November 28, 1703, as "Joseph 
Marsh, student," was ordained May 18, 1709, and died March 8, 1725-6, 
in 41st year of his age. 

V. Rev. John Hancock, H. U., 1719, son of Rev. John Hancock, of 
Lexington, H. U. 1689, was ordained, Nov. 2, 1726, and died. May 7, 
1744, in 42d year of his age. His discourses in 1739, on the completion 
of the first century of the church, were published. He dedicated, as 
we have seen, the edifice here represented ; he died May 7, 1744, in 
the 42d year of his age. John Hancock, tlie patriot. President 
of the Continental Congress, was his son and second child, 



]6 The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 

VI. Rev."Lemuel Briant, H. U., 1*139, son of Thomas Briant, of 
Scituate, Mass, was ordained December 4, 1745; dismissed at his re- 
quest on account of ill health, October 22, 1753, and died at Hingham, 
October 1, 1754, aged 32 years, and was interred at Scituate. 

VII. Rev. Anthony Wibird, H. U., 1747, born at Portsmouth, N. H., 
was ordained February 5, 1755, and died unmarried, Wednesday, 
June 4, 1800, aged 72, and was interred on 7th. For a few of the 
latter years of his ministry he was unable, from bodily infirmities, to 
attend upon the duties of his office. 

VIII. Rev. Peter Whitney, H. U., 1791, born atNorthboro, January 
19, 1770, son of Rev. Peter Whitney of Northboro, of H. U., 1762, 
and grandson of Rev, Aaron Whitney, of Petefjiam, of H. U., 1737, 
ordained February 5, 1800, and died suddenly, as his father died, 
March 3, 1843, in 74th year of his age and 44th of his ministry. 

IX. Rev, William Parsons Lunt, D. D., H. U., 1823, was born in New- 
buryport, April 2>1, 1805; son of Henry Lunt; ordained over the 2d con- 
gregational (Unitarian) church, New York city, June 19, 1828; left, 
November, 1833; installed associate pastor with Rev. Mr. Whitney, 
June 3, 1835. Surviving his aged colleague fourteen years he died 
at Eziou-Geber, on a fond tour to Jerusalem, March 21, 1857, in the 
52nd year of his age and 22nd of his ministry at Quincy. His dis- 
courses in 1839, on the completion of the 2d century of the church, 
were published with valuable historical notes. 

X. Rev. John Doane Wells, H. U., 1854, son of Rev. George Wads- 
worth Wells, H. U., 1823, was born at Kennebunk, Me., and was or- 
dained at Quincy, December 27, 1860. — Present pastor. 

The remains of all the deceased ministers, except Messrs. Briant 
and Lunt, repose in the ancient burial-ground, opposite the first 
church. See vol. ix, p. 151 of this Register. Two beautiful mural 
monuments in marble have been erected in this church, commemora- 
tive of the eighth and ninth ministers. Rev. Messrs. Whitney and 
Lunt, by their parishoners. They are placed opposite similar monu- 
ments commemorative of the two Presidents, alluded to in the article 
here presented, and bear appropriate inscriptions both from the pen 
of Rev. Nathaniel L. Frothingham, D. D., of First Church, Boston. 

We have spoken minutely of this ancient edifice, remembering 
that facts and events which, because connected with our own time, 
we perhaps little regard, soon pass into history, and their record 
posterity thanks us for and prizes. We love to look on this old 
plate. It calls back memories and associations dear and hallowed. 
It tells of the wise and good who so long united in the services of 
the church; of the chiefs of the Nation, who, from the strife and 
turmoil of political life, and from the council chambers of state, 
came on the peaceful sabbath, to sit beneath its Sanctuarj', and at 
its Communion Table to commemorate the Saviour, and at its Altar 
to pray, where in infancy they had been baptized. It speaks of a 
great company of the meek and pious; of beautiful children; of 
young men and maidens; of fathers and mothers, who with the 
early spring and the falling leaves of successive years, went out 
from its worship to lie down in the silent grave. It tells of many 
words of counsel, warning and reproof; of consolation, strength 



The Old Church, Quincy, Mass. 17 

and hope, uttered sabbath after sabbath within its walls from re- 
vered lips long- stilled. Its solemn voice, like the well-remembered 
echo of its uncarpeted aisles, yet speaks impressively of the change 
of all things earthly, and pleads with us for faithfulness to the Pre- 
sent from the hallowed Past. 



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